Lesotho unaware of citizen arrests in South Africa

MASERU — Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Lejone Mpotjoane, says the government has not received any official notice of arrests of Lesotho nationals in South Africa during the recent Easter holidays.

Reports from Kaya 959 indicate that seven Lesotho citizens were detained in Ficksburg for possession of illegal cigarettes, tobacco, and three suspected stolen minibuses. The arrests followed an operation by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) that began on March 27 and recovered minibuses valued at approximately M2.6 million.

During a vehicle checkpoint, soldiers from the 10 SA Infantry Battalion stopped a white Toyota Quantum minibus. A search uncovered hundreds of cartons of Chief, Boss, RG, and Camel Light cigarettes, along with 13 bags of loose tobacco. The driver and six passengers, all Lesotho nationals, were taken into custody.

Minister Mpotjoane noted that while the South African authorities could have informed the Lesotho government, no communication has been received so far.

Illegal cigarette trading remains a persistent cross-border issue between Lesotho and South Africa, fueled by price differences, taxation, and porous borders. The illicit trade includes smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes sold without paying excise duties, attracting buyers with lower prices compared to legally taxed products.

Economic pressures, particularly high taxation on tobacco in South Africa, continue to drive the demand for untaxed cigarettes in border areas.